Let cameras in New York courtrooms again

At least 33 states currently permit cameras in criminal and civil courtrooms

Remember the murder trial of George Zimmerman, the legal wrangling over ballots after the 2000 presidential election or the sometimes riveting testimony in the murder case of Casey Anthony? Most people do because they followed the legal proceedings from Florida on television.

Unfortunately, in New York, except in special circumstances, the public is still limited in what it can learn about legal proceedings in state courts because of an archaic law banning cameras in the courtroom. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who campaigned on a platform of more transparency in government, should make lifting the ban a priority in 2014.

With Cuomo certain to seek re-election next year, timing couldn't be better for New Yorkers to tell him they want to join citizens like those in states such as Florida and California, where broadcast and still cameras have become routine in courtrooms.

There has been no solid evidence that as a result of cameras, justice in those states allowing cameras has been compromised. If anything, citizens in the at least 33 states where cameras are permitted have become better educated about the criminal justice system.

Such benefits were evident in New York during a decade-long experiment with courtroom cameras from 1987 to 1997. Unfortunately, the law authorizing the experiment was allowed to expire amid disputable concerns by a third of judges surveyed, who said that cameras posed a threat to judicial independence and distracted witnesses.

And get this: More than one third of the judges surveyed said TV cameras caused them to render rulings that they otherwise would not have issued. Now that's frightening, that a judge would feel intimidated enough to base a ruling on anything other than facts.

These judges and others who aren't persuaded that courtroom cameras are in the public's interest should take a cue from their boss, New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman. He argues that studies in New York have shown that cameras have no ill effects on courtroom proceedings. He points out, too, that steps can be taken to protect the identities of witnesses.